In this paper, we present the main objectives and components of the OMS Java data management framework. We argue that
developers of modern information systems require high-level application programming interfaces, storage platform independence and support for universal client access. We describe how the OMS Java framework provides three level of abstractions–storage, information and access in order to realise these objectives. We then present each of these layers in turn–starting with the information abstractions which lie at the core of the system and then going on to the storage and access layers.